The Film Daily (1928)

P/^ILY Tuesday, January 3, 1928 •iLSf>>^^ItMux, New Year Finds Hollywood Busy First National Signs Frank Lloyd for Five Pictures— Banks to Make English Film— Fox Names Two New Directors — M-G-M Signs Moran & Mack — Tiffany-Stahl Makes Corder Casting Director 1928 Seen as Most Promising Year for Independent Firms Start of the new year finds considerable activity at Hollywood studios, despite shutdown of the Warner and Sennett plants, and reported plan to close the Universal studios. Fox, Paramount, First National, United Artists, M-G-M, Universal, FBO, Columbia, Tiffany-Stahl. De Mille. Christie, Educational and a number of other independent studios are humming with activity. Mack Sennett is to open his new studio in February, while the Warner plant is expected to reopen that month. The year is expected to witness many changes in production, and there is well-grounded confidence that the economy program is not to be like other short-winded efforts but is a lasting one, which will become more and more rigid as condi tions permit. There may be a decrease of pictures made by the big companie, during the year, but independents will make up for the difference, so no shortage of product is ^i^ici pated. With the uniform contract free-lance artists now in effect, tention is to be turned by the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences to drafting a contract for other studio workers. There is to be no delay in opening negotiations for the new form of agreement, it is stated. Whether high-salaried players are to be placed on a profit-sharing basis, with the number of pictures they make to be reduced, remains to be seen, although executives are said to have decided upon this course at their recent meetings on the Coast. The year looms as a most important one for the independents. The forward strides made during the year by Tiffany-Stahl and Columbia, the new combinat.V>/n of Tec-Art, Inspiration and the Halperins and other independent units are factors which presage this development. Preparing Continuity for Fajos Edward T. Lowe, Jr., is preparing continuity of "Lonesome," which is to be Paul Fajos' first picture for Universal. M-G-M Assigns Currier Frank Currier has been cast for a role in "Chinabound," which is to star Ramon Novarro for M-G-M. Vidor Directing Davies King Vidor will direct Marion Davies in "Polly Preferred" for M-G-M. New Directors Fox has elevated two assistants to the position of director. They are Edward Ogearna and Roscoe Hugh. They will direct westerns. Moran & Mack Signed by M-G-M for Comedy Series Moran & Mack, vaudeville team has been signed by M-G-M, it is reported. "The Two Black Crows," as they are billed on the stage, are to appear in a series of comedies for the company. "World's Illusion," One of larence Brown's Films Clarence Brown's first picture for M-G-M under his new contract has not been definitely decided upon. One of the pictures he will make is "The World's Illusion," which will be a screen adaptation of the Jacob Wasserman novel. It is probble that Brown will not commence ew picture for at least six weeks. Gus Corder Named Casting Director for Tiffany-Stahl Gus Corder has been named casting director for Tiffany-Stahl, under a new contract signed with John N. Stahl. Preparing Barthelmess Film Production on "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" with Richard Barthelmess, which Alfred Santell is directing for First National, starts this week. Ufa Signs Tourjansky V. Tourjansky is to leave next week for Berlin where he is to direct for Ufa. Not Renewing Maria Corda, it is reported, will not renew her contract with First Bess Meredith to Do Scenario First National has signed Bess Meredith to write the scenario of Major Biro's "The Yellow Lily," in which Billie Dove is to star under direction of Alexander Korda. Plans New York Trip Wanda Wiley is to leave the middle of this month for New York to appear in a vaudeville sketch by Willard Mack. FRANK LLOYD SIGNS NEW FIRST NATIONAL CONTRACT Frank Lloyd has signed a new contract with First National, calling for direction of five pictures for the companj'. The first will be "The Divine Woman," which is the' first picture under Corinne Griffith's new contract with the company. Permit Issued for Building Program at F. N. Studios Building permits have been issued for the $500,000 improvements to be made at First National's Burbank studios. A telephone exchange, storage house, stage, new unit for the administration building, an addition to the production building and a new vault are planned representing about 20 per cent of the proposed building program. Monty Banks to Appear in Comedy for British Firm Monty Banks is to appear in a comedy for an English company, name of which soon is to be announced. Banks leaves this month for London. Henley Assigned to Direct Adolphe Menjou Picture Hobart Henley is to direct Adolphe Menjou in "The Super of the Gaiety" as his fir.<»t picture under his new Paramount contract. Production is to start early in January. Signs Edward Clark Edward Clark has been added to the scenario staff of Tiffany-Stahl. Marian Nixon Gets Lead Marian Nixon has been selected for the feminine lead in "Cream of the Earth," which J. T. O'Donohue is adapting. Titling "The Foreign Legion" Jack Jarmuth is titling "The Foreign Legion." Norman Kerry vehicle which Melville Brown directed. New Daniels' Film Completed Bebe Daniels has completed production of "Feel My Pulse," under direction of Gregory La Cava. Fairbanks Signs Amor Carlos Amor has been assigned a role in Douglas Fairbanks' next "Twenty Years After." ^ A Little from ''Lots'' By RALPH WILK Hollywood DO you know that "Married in Triplicate" was the title that was first suggested for a play that made a "little." The play finally got the name of "Abie's Irish Rose." # * * A perfect example of "nailhood" has been sacrificed on the altar of art. In "Doomsday," Florence Vidor has a screen husband, who amuses himself by breaking off one of her beautiful fingernails. ♦ » » Myrtle Stedman is among the actresses who made their theatrical debuts in light opera. Her first appearance was before a Chicago audience. * * * Our Passing Show. Charles B. Mintz visiting Universal City; Henriette and Geftrud,e Cohn attending a preview in Pasadena ; Pete Carroll hurrying on H oily w o o d Boulevard; smiling Thelma Todd being greeted at the Paramount studio. • • • Eddie Dunn is co-directing "The Flying Boob," the first of a series of two-reel comedies starring Slim Summerville and Grace Lewis. Eddie is being kept busy on the Coast, having recently finished an assignment at Educational. In addition to codirecting, Eddie is also writing cotnedy scenarios. • * « At the age of 11, a Rushville, Ind., boy ivon first prize for the best essay submitted by youngsters. The prize ivas awarded at the Chicago Woiid's Fair. The boy was Tom J. Geraghty, Hollywood wit, title writer, scenarist and film editor. » » » More Passing Show: Dave Epstein and Hal Hall motoring down Melrose Ave.; Al Green giving an appreciative passenger a ride on Western avenue. » • * Jack Egan, one of Hollywood's rising juveniles, has moved his makeup box to the First National studio. ■Jack played the juvenile lead opposite Olga Petrova in "The White Peacock," a stage production, before entering pictures iyi the East. * * * Ramon Romeo, who is writing originals and scenarios at Paramount, has been considering an offer to codirect features. 1 1